US3918185A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Animated display
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-19
•
Granted: 1975-11-11
•
Expires: 1994-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A display device in which a rear illuminated strip image transparency sheet, and a grid sheet having alternate opaque and transparent strips, are continuously moved mechanically relative to one another, or change their angular disposition relative to a viewer by movement of the viewer or of the device, to produce an ''''animated'''' display. The strip images are of greater width than the transparent strips of the grid sheet to produce a visual effect wherein each illuminated view of the display dwells for a brief time and then dissolves gradually into a subsequent view, so that there is an optical ''''dwell'''' with no mechanical dwell.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest Hasala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:58
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F19/00; G09F19/12; G09F13/00; G09F13/04; G09F13/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
352 words
In an illuminated display device having illuminating means for projecting generally uniformly diffused light toward a viewer, means between said illuminating means and a viewer providing an animated display, said means comprising, in combination: a strip image transparency sheet which has a plurality of image strips of identical width having parallel longitudinal center lines and effectively abutting edges, said strips being arranged in successive sets that consist of at least two image strips, the first image strips in all the sets collectively forming a first visual image and the second image strips in all the sets collectively forming a second visual image, and each image strip having image forming components occupying the entire space between its edges; a grid sheet closely adjacent and parallel to said strip image transparency sheet, said grid sheet consisting wholly of parallel alternate opaque strips of equal width and transparent strips of equal width, the longitudinal center lines of successive transparent strips being the same distance apart as are the longitudinal center lines of the first image strips of successive sets, and the width of said transparent strips being materially less than the width of the image strips by a ratio of not less than about 5 to 8, so that when the longitudinal center lines of any one set of image strips are aligned with the longitudinal center lines of the transparent grid strips the image forming components along the side portions of the one set of image strips, and also the entirety of each other set of image strips, are concealed from view by the opaque strips of the grid sheet; and means permitting the first image strips and the second image strips to be viewed successively through the transparent grid strips, the materially greater width of the image strips as compared to that of the transparent grid strips causing each visual image to appear to the viewer to remain in view for a discrete time span and then dissolve into the next visual image as a result of continuous relative motion between any two of the viewer, the transparency sheet, and the grid sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
352 words
In an illuminated display device having illuminating means for projecting generally uniformly diffused light toward a viewer, means between said illuminating means and a viewer providing an animated display, said means comprising, in combination: a strip image transparency sheet which has a plurality of image strips of identical width having parallel longitudinal center lines and effectively abutting edges, said strips being arranged in successive sets that consist of at least two image strips, the first image strips in all the sets collectively forming a first visual image and the second image strips in all the sets collectively forming a second visual image, and each image strip having image forming components occupying the entire space between its edges; a grid sheet closely adjacent and parallel to said strip image transparency sheet, said grid sheet consisting wholly of parallel alternate opaque strips of equal width and transparent strips of equal width, the longitudinal center lines of successive transparent strips being the same distance apart as are the longitudinal center lines of the first image strips of successive sets, and the width of said transparent strips being materially less than the width of the image strips by a ratio of not less than about 5 to 8, so that when the longitudinal center lines of any one set of image strips are aligned with the longitudinal center lines of the transparent grid strips the image forming components along the side portions of the one set of image strips, and also the entirety of each other set of image strips, are concealed from view by the opaque strips of the grid sheet; and means permitting the first image strips and the second image strips to be viewed successively through the transparent grid strips, the materially greater width of the image strips as compared to that of the transparent grid strips causing each visual image to appear to the viewer to remain in view for a discrete time span and then dissolve into the next visual image as a result of continuous relative motion between any two of the viewer, the transparency sheet, and the grid sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the strip image transparency sheet and the grid sheet are substantially in facing contact with one another so as to avoid parallax, and means are provided for continuously shifting the strip image transparency sheet and the grid sheet relative to one another in a direction substanTially normal to the center lines of the image strips so as to cause the first image strips and the second image strips to be viewed successively through the transparent grid strips.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 1 which includes means spacing the strip image transparency sheet and the grid sheet apart by a predetermined distance which is sufficient that relative movement between a viewer, the grid sheet and the transparency sheet causes the first image strips and the second image strips to be viewed successively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 3 in which the ratio of the width of the image strips to the width of the transparent grid strips is about 2 to 1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 3 in which the means spacing the strip image transparency sheet and the grid sheet apart comprises a transparent member many times thicker than either of the sheets, and in which the transparency sheet and the grid sheet abut opposite surfaces of the transparent member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 5 in which the thickness of the transparent member is of the order of the width of the image strips.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 5 in which the transparent member and the grid sheet are integral.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 5 in which the transparent member, the grid sheet and the strip image transparency sheet are integral.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the center lines of the image strips are parallel to the center lines of the transparent strips of the grid sheet, so that each visual image appears to dissolve into the next visual image simultaneously throughout the entire extent of the images.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the center lines of the image strips and the center lines of the transparent strips of the grid sheets are slightly out of parallelism with one another, so that each visual image appears to dissolve into the next visual image progressively from one margin of the images to the other margin of the images.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 1 which includes a lenticular screen between the animated display means and a viewer, said lenticular screen being parallel to and spaced from said animated display means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |